‘FirstLight were good to me when Sam died’
By Aideen O'Flaherty
OVER €2,500 was raised for a charity that supports bereaved parents and families, at a charity X Factor night in the Blue Gardenia in Brittas, to mark the 30th anniversary of the passing of the event organiser, Rita Keogh’s, son Sam.
Rita first came into contact with FirstLight, formerly known as the Irish Sudden Infant Death Associated, when her son Sam passed away from cot death at four-and-a-half-months-old on November 5, 1988.
Photo of Sam Keogh in 1988
The charity offered Rita support and a listening ear following the tragic loss of her son, and so she decided to mark the 30th anniversary of her son’s passing by raising funds for the charity.
Rita told The Echo: “I wanted to do something to mark Sam’s short, brief life, and FirstLight were good to me when Sam died.
“I was able to talk to someone who had walked on the same path that I was on, who understood the enormity of the pain, the grief and the unanswered questions.
“It meant that I could talk to people who knew exactly how I felt. You get an outpouring of support and sympathy from family and neighbours, but they don’t understand the grief you’re going through.”
Wayne Holohan, Patrick Taylor, Belle McAleer and Brian Butler Mansfield, who Rita described as “babies that just didn’t make it home”, were also remembered on the night.
Fantastic night
Over 200 people attended the event, with buses full of people from places like Saggart and Tallaght showing up to lend their support and show off their music talent.
“It was an absolutely fantastic night,” said Rita, “the atmosphere was electric and it was great to see the Blue Gardenia going back to what it was years ago.”
The Blue Gardenia had been lying idle for a number of years before it was purchased by Ciara Ryan from Dundrum and Gregory Fahy from Ticknock last February, and was back open for business last August.
The venue also had a particular resonance for lifelong Brittas resident Rita, as she worked in the pub in the late 80s.
A raffle also took place during the X Factor night, which featured items including signed boxing gloves that had been donated by Olympic silver medallist Kenneth Egan, two signed rugby balls from Leinster Rugby, and a signed Dublin GAA jersey from 1976, when Dublin beat Kerry in the All-Ireland Final.
“The generosity of people was amazing,” said Rita. “We got so much stuff for the raffle that we had to bundle stuff up into hampers.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the money that was raised, and I’m thrilled with the response that the X Factor night got.”
To find out more about FirstLight, which provides crisis intervention and free professional counselling services nationwide to bereaved parents and family members who have suddenly lost a child, you can visit their website at www.firstlight.ie, or phone their 24/7 emergency support line on 1850 391 391.
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